Abstract: A process for the preparation of a compound of general formula I: ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkenyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkynyl, any of which may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen and OH; or COOR.sup.4, COR.sup.6, CONR.sup.4 R.sup.5 or CONHSO.sub.2 R.sup.4 ;R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are each independently hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms;R.sup.6 is a halogen atom or a group R.sup.4 ;R.sup.2 is hydrogen or halo;R.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkenyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkynyl, any of which may optionally be substituted with one or more halogen atoms; or halo;the process comprising reacting a compound of general formula II: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.

Abstract: 5-Chloro-2-(4,4-difluorobutenylthio)thiazole is prepared from 2-mercaptothiazole by a multistep process involving S-alkylation, chlorination and dehydrochlorination and is converted by oxidation to the corresponding sulfone which is useful as an agricultural nematicide.

Abstract: 2-Hydroxy-6-trifluoromethylpyridine is prepared by reacting 2-chloro-6-trifluoromethylpyridine with an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide in a sealed vessel at a temperature of at least 140.degree. C. under autogenous pressure.

Abstract: The trimethylsulphonium salt of N-phosphonomethylglycine is prepared by reacting N-phosphonomethylglycine, preferably in the form of a solid, with an aqueous solution of trimethylsulphonium carbonate or trimethylsulphonium bicarbonate or a mixture thereof. The trimethylsulphonium carbonate or trimethylsulphonium bicarbonate may be prepared by bubbling carbon dioxide through an aqueous solution of trimethylsulphonium hydroxide. It is possible to manufacture trimethylsulphonium carbonate or bicarbonate at one site and then transport them to a different site for local manufacture of N-phosphonomethylglycine in a relatively unsophisticated plant which produces minimal effluent.

Abstract: A process for the nitration of an aromatic or heteroaromatic compound with a nitrating agent comprising nitric acid or a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids, characterised in that nitration is performed in a solvent comprising at least 50% v/v of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl ester of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 carboxylic acid. The process is of particular use for the nitration of diphenyl ethers to give compounds which are useful as herbicides or as intermediates in the synthesis of herbicides.

Abstract: A process for preparing an aldehyde or ketone comprising reacting a primary or secondary alcohol with oxygen in the presence of a base, a catalytic amount of a copper salt and a suitable lignad under anhydrous conditions.

Abstract: A process for the purification of a compound of general formula I: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkenyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkynyl, any of which may optionally be substituted with one or more substituents selected from halogen and hydroxy; or COOR.sup.4, COR.sup.6, CONR.sup.4 R.sup.5 or CONHSO.sub.2 R.sup.4 ;R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 independently represent hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms;R.sup.6 is a halogen atom or a group R.sup.4 ;R.sup.2 is hydrogen or halo; andR.sup.3 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkenyl or C.sub.2 -C.sub.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved process for preparing halogenated alcohols of the formula CX1X2X3CH(OH)CH:C(CH3)2 (I, X1, X2, X3=halo) by reacting CX1X2X3H with 3-methylbut-2-en-1-al in the presence of a strong base and an inert solvent.

Abstract: A process for preparing a compound of formula (I): ##STR1## by rearrangement of a compound of formula (II): ##STR2## in a non-polar solvent in the presence of a cyanide source, an alkali or alkaline earth metal carbonate, a phase transfer catalyst and 1-6 moles of water with respect to the compound of formula (II).

Abstract: The present invention provides the novel chlorofluorohydrocarbon 1,1-difluoro-1,4-dichlorobutane, and a process for its preparation by reacting 1,1,1,4-tetrachlorobutane with hydrogen fluoride in the liquid phase. The product has useful solvent properties and is also useful in synthetic chemistry for the introduction of fluorocarbon functionality.

Abstract: A process for preparing a compound of formula (I), ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is optionally substituted alkyl or phenyl, R.sup.2 is COOH, and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are independently selected from hydrogen, halo, haloalkyl, nitro, hydroxy, alkoxy, haloalkoxy or alkoxyalkoxy; which process comprises oxidising a compound of formula (II) ##STR2## where R.sup.1, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are as defined in relation to formula (I) and R.sup.5 is H, halo or C.sub.1-4 alkyl with sodium hypochlorite or sodium chlorite in the presence of a catalytic amount of a ruthenium or palladium compound and a phase transfer catalyst in an organic solvent at a pH of 7-11.

Abstract: A process for preparing 4,6-dichloropyrimidine comprising treating 4,6-dihydroxy-pyrimidine with phosgene in the presence of a suitable base and optionally in the presence of a solvent.

Abstract: A process for preparing a compound of formula (I), where R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5 and R.sup.6 are independently hydrogen or C.sub.1-6 alkyl; R.sup.7 is halogen, cyano, NO.sub.2, C.sub.1-4 alkyl, C.sub.1-4 haloalkyl, C.sub.1-4 alkoxy or RaS in which Ra is C.sub.1-4 alkyl; R.sup.8, R.sup.9 and R.sup.10 independently are hydrogen, halogen, C.sub.1-4 alkyl, C.sub.1-4 alkoxy, C.sub.1-4 haloalkyl, C.sub.1-4 haloalkoxy, CN, NO.sub.2, phenoxy or substituted phenoxy; R.sub.b S(O)n Om in which m is 0 or 1, n is 0, 1 or 2 and Rb is C.sub.1-4 alkyl, C.sub.1-4 haloalkyl, phenyl or benzyl, NHCOR.sub.c in which c is C.sub.1-4 alkyl, NRdRe in which Rd and Re independently are hydrogen or C.sub.1-4 alkyl; RfC(O)-- in which Rf is hydrogen, C.sub.1-4 alkyl, C.sub.1-4 haloalkyl or C.sub.1-4 alkoxy; SO.sub.2 NRgRh in which Rg and Rh independently are hydrogen or C.sub.1-4 alkyl; or any two of R.sup.8, R.sup.9 and R.sup.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved process for the preparation of a lower alkyl ester of 3-(2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-en-1-yl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid in which the corresponding lower alkyl ester of a carboxylic acid selected from 6-bromo-6-chloro-3,3-dimethyl-7,7,7-trifluorohept-2-enoic acid and 6,6-dichloro-3,3-dimethyl-7,7,7-trifluorohept-2-enoic acid is treated with an alkali metal lower alkoxylate in the presence of an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent under conditions under which the lower alcohol of the alkoxylate is removed from the reaction mixture by distillation with the aromatic solvent. The products are useful as intermediates in the manufacture of pyrethroid insecticides.

Abstract: Intermediates of formula (I), ##STR1## wherein R is H or CH.sub.3 ; processes for preparing them and their use as chemical intermediates, especially for preparing fungicidal acrylic ester derivatives.